TGCFNM -Chapter 355 Shiyu Comes to Visit

Steward Liu suddenly understood why Manager Hong had been so nervous that day—and why he had worn that particular expression.

He took a deep breath, yet still felt a tightness in his chest. “My Lord, Young Master, Young Master Su, let’s wait—wait until the Eldest Young Master returns.”

“What are we waiting for my elder brother for?” Wan Sanjin asked, puzzled.

Steward Liu gritted his teeth inwardly. What else could it be for? To keep you all under control, of course!

“The Eldest Young Master may have a way to keep everyone safe, so there’ll be no need for you to act personally. My Lord, Young Masters—why not simply enjoy fine food each day, go out sightseeing, play a few rounds of pai gow in your spare time, and once the birthday banquet is over, leave in comfort? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” Steward Liu said with a smile.

Wan Sanjin looked a little upset. “Wouldn’t that make me useless? No, I can’t rely on my elder brother for everything. Don’t worry, Steward Liu. I’ll do my job properly.”

Chu Ling also looked at Steward Liu and said, “Steward Liu, there’s no need to worry too much. We never fight a battle we’re not prepared for.”

After taking several deep breaths and realizing there was no persuading them, Steward Liu decided to endure for now. The Eldest Young Master would be back soon anyway.

At that moment, a servant came to report that a carriage had stopped outside—it was Miss Shiyu.

Joy flashed across Chu Ling’s face. “Quick, invite her in. Bring her straight here.”

Steward Liu asked instinctively, “My Lord, are you waiting for Miss Shiyu to play pai gow?”

“We want to investigate the case of the courtesan’s death, so we’ve asked Miss Shiyu to help us. Steward Liu, please inform the gatekeepers that next time she may be invited in directly,” Wan Sanjin said with a smile.

Steward Liu acknowledged and went to prepare hot tea and refreshments.

Soon after, Shiyu walked over alone at a measured pace. She removed the hood from her head and gave everyone a gentle curtsy.

“Miss Shiyu, please have a seat,” Chu Ling said, pointing to an empty chair.

Shiyu stepped forward and sat down. Afterward, she glanced around the garden and couldn’t help exclaiming, “This place is truly beautiful. It must have taken considerable effort to maintain.”

Chu Ling thought the same—after all, this was Wan Xing’s private residence; naturally it would be carefully tended.

At that moment, Steward Liu returned with tea and pastries. “My Lord may speak freely. It is very quiet nearby.”

Chu Ling thanked him, and Steward Liu withdrew for the time being.

Shiyu placed the teacup before her. Her hands unconsciously twisted together, and she suddenly grew a little nervous.

Noticing her discomfort, Chu Ling began introducing them. “You’ve met me before. I’m a county magistrate, here in the capital to attend a birthday celebration. This is the young master of the Wan family—you’ve met him as well—but he is also the adviser at our yamen. This is Su He, the coroner of our office.”

Shiyu rose to give a bow, then sat down again. “My name is Shiyu. My surname is Liu.”

Wan Sanjin was startled. “You’re from that Liu family?”

Shiyu gave a bitter smile. “Yes, that Liu family—the one on good terms with the great clans. But now my family members are all in Crime Street. Only I was allowed out. And every day I eat well and live comfortably.”

Wan Sanjin frowned. “How can you call that comfortable?”

Shiyu could no longer maintain her smile and lowered her head sadly.

Su He suddenly spoke. “Your skull structure is quite good—very round.”

Wan Sanjin immediately reached out and covered Su He’s mouth.

Chu Ling laughed awkwardly and teased, looking at Shiyu, “It seems admiring beauty has made me nearly forget the main matter, haha. Miss Shiyu, you’ve come this time to bring us news, haven’t you?”

Shiyu nodded. “I was worried that if I wrote it down, someone with ill intentions might notice, so I didn’t write anything. But I memorized it.”

Chu Ling immediately turned to Wan Sanjin. “Advisor Wan, get some paper and a brush. Coroner Su, get ready.”

Wan Sanjin responded and went to fetch the writing materials.

Chu Ling picked up the domino tiles and put them back into the box. Su He stood up, rolling his wrists lightly, prepared at any moment.

“The coroner… the young coroner will be recording?” Shiyu asked curiously. “Isn’t it usually the advisor who does the writing?”

Chu Ling nodded. “Advisor Wan never studied much when he was young.”

Shiyu gave a soft “Oh,” understanding at once.

Soon, Wan Sanjin returned with paper and brush. Su He spread the paper flat, weighed it down with a paperweight, then dipped his brush in ink.

Shiyu looked at Chu Ling. “Last night, my lord, you wanted me to note the strange things about Yunliu after she became the courtesan queen. I guessed you would also want to know what was strange about the previous courtesan queens, so I had my maid carefully make some inquiries.”

“Won’t that cause trouble?” Chu Ling asked with a frown. “Miss Shiyu, you must be careful about your safety.”

Shiyu shook her head. “Madam has already spoken to me. I am to be the next courtesan queen, so it’s only natural that I’d be nervous and ask questions. Besides, I didn’t ask how they died, so no one became suspicious.”

Only then did Chu Ling relax.

Shiyu continued, “My lord, I’ll first speak of what was strange about the previous courtesan queens. They all seemed to share the same pattern.”

“The same?” Chu Ling asked in confusion.

Shiyu nodded gravely, even looking a little frightened. “On the night they became courtesan queen, after the Painting Sage finished the portrait, the courtesan queen could return to her room to rest and no longer had to receive guests. But every one of them seemed to be injured after returning to their room.”

“Injured?” Chu Ling frowned. “Where were the injuries?”

“On their hands, arms, legs… Madam said it was because they had just been crowned courtesan queen and their emotions had yet to settle, so excitement was unavoidable. But since they were courtesan queens and would later sit for more paintings, scars on their bodies would be unsightly. So Madam would take out very expensive ointment for them to apply. After applying it, there truly were no scars left,” Shiyu explained.

Chu Ling’s expression grew serious. “If they were worried about scarring, then the wounds must have drawn blood—and not been light.”

Shiyu nodded.

Wan Sanjin asked doubtfully from the side, “Are there sharp objects in the courtesan queen’s room? Something that could cause bleeding injuries?”

Shiyu shook her head. “No one knows. We only know they were injured.”

“There’s one more thing,” Chu Ling said. “The courtesan queens later went out to have portraits painted. Were those secret sittings? No one knew who the painter was?”

Shiyu nodded. “Only the courtesan queen herself knew. And each person went to a different location, so no useful information could be gathered from that.”

“After the courtesan queen returned from having her portrait painted, was there anything unusual?” Chu Ling asked again.

Shiyu looked at Chu Ling excitedly. “I thought I was the only one who noticed something strange—I even wanted to take credit before you, my lord. But it turns out you noticed as well.”

Chu Ling smiled, gesturing for her to continue.

Shiyu let out a soft breath, her eyes bright. “When a courtesan queen goes to sit for a portrait, she must sit still all night. Naturally, it’s exhausting. So when she returns, everyone thinks her fatigue is normal. But I asked everyone I could, and from reading medical books at home in the past, I know that such extreme exhaustion cannot simply be cured by sleeping well during the day and then appearing radiant again at night.”

Chu Ling finally grasped the crux of the matter. “In other words, she returns in the morning looking utterly exhausted, but when she appears again that night, she is not only radiant but even more beautiful?”

Shiyu nodded seriously. “Exactly.”